Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois
H.C. Bradsby, Editor
Illustrated
Chicago: World Publishing Company  1885
Reprinted by: Higginson Book Co., Salem, MA

Transcribed by: Denise McLoughlin
Tampico Area Historical Society
www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com

Page 531

JAMES GRAHAM, Fairfield, was born March 23, 1823, in Queens County, Ireland. His parents were James and Elizabeth (Cullen) Graham. Our subject had two brothers and one sister who came to this county, viz.: Alfred, deceased; Malcolm, yet living, and Mrs. Caroline Quigg, a resident of Dakota.

James Graham came to America in 1847, landing in New York. He was a wool sorter by occupation, and worked at his trade a short time in Connecticut. After this he went to Ithaca, N.Y., where he followed his trade nearly ten years. In March, 1857, he came to Fairfield Township, Bureau Co., Ill., where he bought eighty acres of dry land, as he supposed, because at that time no water stood on the land; but when he came to settle on it a few months later he found it submerged, and had to wade through nearly two feet of water to get to a few acres of elevated land, which he cultivated. Similar incidents occurred in the northwest part of this county. Nothing daunted by this and beginning of a farmer's life Mr. Graham stuck to the land and proved a successful farmer, and at present owns 280 acres of land.

He was married in Ithaca, N.Y., to Mary A. Sterling, a native of County Armagh, Ireland. She is the mother of three children, viz.: Mrs. Caroline Adams, Mrs. Elizabeth C. Burk and Alfred . Graham.

Mr. and Mrs. Graham are members of the Church of England.

Politically he is a Democrat, but favors greenback principles. He has filled school offices.